How To Keep Hawks Away From Chickens- The Complete Guide

Are you struggling with knowing how to keep hawks away from chickens? Are these raptors continuing to snatch up your precious hens despite your best efforts to keep them at bay?

Hawks are birds of prey that majestically soar in the sky, but they may seem more menacing than majestic perched near your chicken coop. These predatory birds are known for their powerful curved beaks and talons and for their ability to fly at incredibly high speeds. They can dive at speeds up to 120 miles per hour!

These birds are a hazard to your chickens, and if you are having trouble knowing how to protect your hens from these powerful birds of prey, we are going to equip you with some additional knowledge. Let’s look at Tips on How to Keep Hawks Away from Chickens.

Hawks are not the only predators that may be attacking your chickens! Check out this article on 7 of the deadliest chicken predators.

What You Should Know About Hawks

These great birds of prey are fascinating to study, and their predatory instincts help them survive and catch their food. Let’s look at some facts about hawks that you will want to know in your consideration of your chickens’ safety.

Hawks have Incredible Eyesight

If you think you have good eyesight, consider the hawk’s vision. Hawks can see details clearly from great distances, and their eyesight is said to be 8 times sharper than humans. These powerful birds can also turn their head at a 360-degree angle, meaning they can scan their surroundings without even moving their bodies. Not only can hawks see details from a distance, but they can also see well in dim environments.

Hawks’ wonderful eyesight, combined with their great diving abilities, makes them a menace to the chickens wandering carelessly around in your chicken run. Realizing the incredible eyesight of hawks will help you understand more clearly how to keep hawks away from chickens.

If you would like some additional knowledge on hawks’ eyesight, check out this article.

Hawks are Known for Their Hunting Tactics

Aerial acrobatics are not only for planes and drones; hawks have their own list of aerial stunts. Soaring around the sky with their keen eyes trained on potential prey, they can spot and swoop in on their target in a small amount of time.

Not only do hawks hunt from high in the sky, but they are also skilled at ambushing their prey from hidden perches close by. These perches could be a tree branch or a telephone pole near your coop. Using their stealth and camouflage skills, they can patiently wait on their hidden perch for JUST the right time to swoop in on your helpless hens. For more in-depth information on hawks and their hunting tactics, read this article.

Hawks are Highly Adaptable

Unlike certain types of birds, these birds of prey are (inconveniently) very adaptable to multiple types of surroundings and environments. Their diverse diet ranges from small birds and insects to mice and chickens. They are also capable of thriving in different habitats, like forests, grasslands, wetlands, and even deserts.

In addition to their flexibility in habitat, hawks are also adaptable in their nesting habits. They can adapt these habits to fit their current surroundings. The flexibility and adaptability of a hawk prove that whether or not you like it, some variety of hawks is probably perusing your neighborhood.

How to Keep Hawks Away From Chickens: Deterrents

Now that you know a little about hawks and their mannerisms, it’s easy to see why they can be such a threat to your birds. So let’s take a look at some ideas on how to keep hawks away from chickens using deterrents.

1. Usual Visual Deterrents

Sometimes simple methods like using deterrents in your chicken coop may help to keep the hawks at bay. Let’s look at some visual deterrents you can use as you learn how to keep hawks away from chickens.

Shiny Objects

Hawks generally are deterred by bright flashes of light. Hanging objects like old DVDs, CDs, or reflective tape may help to keep them at bay and protect your chickens.

Scarecrows or Decoy Predators

Hanging scarecrows or predator decoys may be an effective method to keep hawks at bay. Predator decoys, eagles, and owls, especially, may make the hawks feel threatened and less likely to approach.

Random Moving Objects

Moving objects like a flag that blows in the breeze or pinwheels often appear unpredictable and threatening to a hawk. Using visual deterrents like these may be an effective idea for how to keep hawks away from chickens. Visual deterrents may be a good way to keep multiple kinds of chicken predators at bay and may help you raccoon-proof or fox-proof a chicken coop.

2. Train a Guard Dog

Do you have a dog on your property? If not, consider investing in a good guard dog like a German Shepherd or some kind of protective dog breed. Dogs may do more than you think to help protect your chickens from potential hawk attacks.

Provides A Protective Presence for your Chickens

Having a guard dog on the property will help deter hawks from the coop simply with their presence. Hawks may sense another presence on the property and steer clear.

Poses A Threat to the Hawk

Dogs like to bark and chase things, and if a well-trained dog guards your flock properly, it will defend them in moments of danger. Barking and chasing hawks away when your canine catches them in the coop will prevent hawks from wanting to make a trip back anytime soon.

3. Give Your Chickens Some Hiding Spaces

One way to help your chickens stay safe is to provide them with hiding places, especially when they are outside or in their run. If you do not have a covered coop, seriously consider giving your chickens places to hide in their pen. Whether it’s bushes, shrubs, or any covered area, make sure they have a place to move out of sight if a hawk is circling overhead.

4. Use Loud Noises

Though these birds of prey may be adjusted to certain loud noises, consider a couple of these particular noises to scare these birds off your property. Using airhorns and other noisy objects may also help keep bears away and bear-proof your property.

Predator Calls

Like most predators of the sky, hawks are territorial and won’t be as likely to target your coop if they think they hear another predator. Using pre-recorded predator calls, like coyote calls, fox calls, or larger birds of prey, will signal danger to any impending hawks.

Other Unexpected Loud Noises

Hawks don’t like to be caught off guard, and making a racket if you see one nearby is not a bad idea. If you catch a hawk about to attack your chickens, yelling and clapping your hands loudly will spook them and hopefully scare them off. Using air horns, or banging pots or pans may also effectively chase them away.

5. Install Motion Activated Sprinklers

Hawks generally avoid wetter areas, and if you have a motion-activated sprinkler system near your coop, it may startle an attacking hawk and discourage it from targeting your hens.

How to Hawk Proof a Chicken Coop

While deterrents may do their part in protecting your chickens, the best way to learn how to keep hawks away from chickens is to hawk-proof your coop and make their entrance into the coop more difficult, maybe even impossible.

6. Cover your Coop and Run

If you haven’t done this yet, then get on it. As long as your coop and run are open and your chickens are out there for the grabbing, hawks are going to continue being a threat to your chickens. This may seem like a lot of extra work, but the lives of your chickens are on the line. How much do you care about their safety? Let’s look at some different methods to “cover” your coop.

Roofing

Depending on the size of your coop and run, this may be an option that works for you. Build a sturdy wooden, heavy-duty plastic, or metal roof over your run or coop (if it’s open) to protect your chickens. Keep in mind that this may not be the best method if you want your chickens to get more fresh air and sunshine.

Netting

Using netting like hardwire cloth or bird netting is a good method to close your coop if you are struggling with knowing how to keep hawks away from chickens. Be sure to use netting with a mesh small enough to prevent a hawk from reaching through. Also, be careful to secure the netting tightly so no hawk can squeeze through or get underneath it.

Trees

Though this method may not be as effective as the first two, it may still help keep the hawks at bay. Moving your coop to an area where your chickens may be shaded by trees could prevent hawks from getting a “bird’s eye” view of your coop and scouting out your hens. Be warned, though, that if the hawk DOES discover your chickens, the tree may conveniently be a place for it to perch and prey on your hens secretly.

7. Add an Overhang to the Coop Roof

If you need some more pointers on how to keep hawks away from chickens, adding an overhang may be a fairly simple way to make the hawk’s job more difficult. Let’s look at how an overhang can help your chickens stay safe.

If you don’t have a cover on your entire coop, consider adding at least an overhang onto your coop. If a hawk likes to perch on the edge of the coop roof, he will have a harder time getting the right line of sight on your hens with a bit of an overhang in the way. If your chickens tend to gather outside the coop door and underneath the overhang, hawks may have reduced visibility from the sky and will be less likely to swoop in and attack.

8. Use a Mobile Coop

If hawks seem to be a problem that you can’t deal with properly, and you don’t know how to keep hawks away from chickens any other way, consider getting a mobile coop for your chickens.

The Hen House Collection is known for its selection of quality mobile coops. If you want a sturdy mobile coop for your little flock of hens, check out their customizable coops made in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Ability to Change Locations

Because these coops are mobile, they can be moved to different locations, of course. This may be helpful if your chickens are out in the open and vulnerable to attack. Move your coop closer to the house or under a tree to keep them out of the line of preying hawks.

Sturdy Design

Mobile coops are generally constructed with sturdy materials and are built with a predator-proof design. Reinforced walls, doors, and sturdy mesh will keep predators, including hawks, from getting access to the coop.

Monitor your Chickens Closely

Because this type of coop is usually smaller and made for smaller flocks of chickens, it can be moved close to the house and monitored carefully. The size of a mobile coop will also help you quickly see when a fence or netting has been compromised, or a chicken has been taken.

9. Keep a Rooster Close By

A rooster may be an easy method to protect your flock from these raptors. The rooster is the “king” of the flock and feels the need to protect the females with him. Getting a rooster for your flock of happy hens is an easy tactic in learning how to keep hawks away from chickens.

Gives Alarm Calls to His Hens

A rooster not only cockadoodle-doos in the morning to wake you up, but he also uses his big voice to warn the flock of danger. Mr. Rooster is known for having distinctive alarm calls to alert the flock of danger and will utilize these calls when he senses danger, signaling all the girls to take cover.

Defends Aggressively

Roosters are not all bark and no bite; they can physically defend the flock in times of trouble. If an intruder is lurking nearby or breaks into the coop, the rooster may puff up his chest, spread his wings, and charge the intruding animal. These courageous birds may be a lifesaver for your hens.

10. Add a Black Chicken to the Flock

As strange as it sounds, a black chicken can be something like a bad omen to a hawk, mostly because it may look like a crow to them. Crows actually prey on hawks, though they tend to do it in larger groups. Because the two birds don’t exactly co-exist in harmony, a hawk may be more likely to avoid a flock that has a black chicken present. This is definitely a unique method for how to keep hawks away from chickens. It is important to note that this method is not exactly proven, but really, how would adding a black hen to the flock hurt?

11. Cover Up Outdoor Feeders

Chickens are most vulnerable during lunchtime and are easy prey to hawks when they are all gathered around a feeder with their heads down. A hawk that keeps an eye on your coop will know when the most opportune time to strike is, and with multiple chickens in such a vulnerable position, how could it resist?

Protect your Chickens with a Predator Proof Door

Without a coop that is constructed carefully and with quality materials, your hens will be vulnerable to multiple predator attacks, including hawks. A predator-proof coop door from Pet Auto Door will keep your chickens safe in their coop at night. With a timer that can be set to open and close the doors whenever you want, this convenient and sturdy automatic door will keep your chickens safe and sound from any birds of prey looking for an afternoon snack. If you are wondering if investing in an automatic coop door is really worth it, read this article.

Are you interested in using solar energy for your coop? Consider our solar chicken coop doors for your coop!

See for yourself how our automatic chicken coop doors could help your chickens stay safe!

Do you feel more equipped with information on how to keep hawks away from chickens? Hawks are only one of many predators that your chickens face, so check out our blog for some more in-depth information on how to predator-proof your chicken coop.